Premier League calls for Roke Manor goal line technology by 2012

The Hawk Eye ball tracking system developed at Roke Manor Research looks set to be put in place in the Premiership in time for the 2012/2013 season.

The tracking system is already used in sports such as tennis and cricket and Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, is satisfied that the technology is ready to be deployed in top flight football.

Nine separate tracking systems were tested, but the Hawk Eye system was chosen by the Premier League. It works on a principle of triangulation, using images and timing data provided by high speed video cameras at different locations around the field of play. It is unable to provide real time data, so play must be stopped to enable the official to review the footage.

The final decision won't be announced until FIFA's ruling body, the International Football Association Board, assesses the results from new trials in July 2012. However, Scudamore insists that the decision be made sooner rather than later. "The technology is available, it is the fairness that is important and the Premier League would introduce it tomorrow if it could. Now FIFA is constructively engaged we are hopeful the 2012/13 season is a realistic aim," he said.

Fifa President, Sepp Blatter, has announced that he hopes to have a similar system ready in time for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.